Methods, devices and systems for remote wind sensing a laser anemometer

Abstract

A system for monitoring wind characteristics in a volume including a plurality of non-coherent laser anemometers operative to measure wind characteristics in a plurality of corresponding sub-volumes located within the volume and a data processing subsystem operative to receive data from the plurality of non-coherent laser anemometers and to provide output data representing the wind characteristics in the volume.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A laser anemometer comprising:
 a tunable laser; 
 a scanner, receiving an output from said tunable laser and providing laser beam outputs in various scanning directions; 
 at least one detector for receiving signals from back scattered laser beam outputs; and 
 correlation circuitry operative to correlate signals received by said at least one detector and to provide information as to direction and speed of movement of aerosols in the air, said information representing wind velocity. 
 
     
     
       2. A laser anemometer according to  claim 1  and also comprising an anemometer transmission controller operative to provide timed control outputs to said tunable laser. 
     
     
       3. A laser anemometer according to  claim 1  and wherein said control outputs comprise a power level, timing and a wavelength of pulse outputs of said tunable laser. 
     
     
       4. A laser anemometer according to  claim 1  and also comprising an optical amplifier. 
     
     
       5. A laser anemometer according to  claim 1  and also comprising a wavelength division multiplexer coupled to said tunable laser. 
     
     
       6. A laser anemometer according to  claim 1  and wherein said at least one detector comprises an array of detectors. 
     
     
       7. A laser anemometer according to  claim 1  and also comprising an optical filter. 
     
     
       8. A laser anemometer comprising:
 a wavelength tunable laser; 
 a wavelength responsive scanner, receiving an output from said wavelength tunable laser at multiple wavelengths and providing laser beam outputs in various scanning directions in accordance with said multiple wavelengths; and 
 at least one detector for receiving signals from back scattered laser beam outputs. 
 
     
     
       9. A laser anemometer comprising:
 a laser; 
 an optical switch responsive to a control signal for providing laser beams in various scanning directions which are non-coherent when they impinge on particles in the atmosphere; and 
 at least one detector for receiving signals from back scattered laser beam outputs which are not coherent. 
 
     
     
       10. A laser anemometer according to  claim 9  and also comprising an optical amplifier. 
     
     
       11. A laser anemometer according to  claim 9  and wherein said at least one detector comprises an array of detectors. 
     
     
       12. A laser anemometer according to  claim 9  and also comprising an optical filter. 
     
     
       13. A laser anemometer according to  claim 9  and also comprising correlation circuitry operative to correlate signals received by said at least one detector. 
     
     
       14. A laser anemometer comprising:
 a laser; 
 an optical switch having no moving parts and being responsive to a control signal for providing laser beam outputs in various scanning directions; and 
 at least one detector for receiving signals from back scattered laser beam outputs. 
 
     
     
       15. A laser anemometer according to  claim 14  and also comprising an optical amplifier. 
     
     
       16. A laser anemometer according to  claim 14  and wherein said at least one detector comprises an array of detectors. 
     
     
       17. A laser anemometer according to  claim 14  and also comprising an optical filter. 
     
     
       18. A laser anemometer according to  claim 14  and also comprising correlation circuitry operative to correlate signals received by said at least one detector. 
     
     
       19. A laser anemometer comprising:
 a laser; 
 a MEMS optical switch being responsive to a control signal for providing laser beam outputs in various scanning directions; and 
 at least one detector for receiving signals from back scattered laser beam outputs. 
 
     
     
       20. A laser anemometer according to  claim 19  and also comprising an optical amplifier. 
     
     
       21. A laser anemometer according to  claim 19  and wherein said at least one detector comprises an array of detectors. 
     
     
       22. A laser anemometer according to  claim 19  and also comprising an optical filter. 
     
     
       23. A laser anemometer according to  claim 19  and also comprising correlation circuitry operative to correlate signals received by said at least one detector. 
     
     
       24. A laser anemometer comprising:
 a laser; 
 a laser beam splitter for providing laser beam outputs simultaneously in a plurality of scanning directions; 
 a plurality of detectors for receiving signals from back scattering of said laser beam outputs; and 
 correlation circuitry operative to correlate signals received by said plurality of detectors and to provide information as to direction and speed of movement of aerosols in the air, said information representing wind velocity. 
 
     
     
       25. A laser anemometer according to  claim 24  and also comprising an optical amplifier. 
     
     
       26. A laser anemometer according to  claim 24  and also comprising an optical filter.